July is just around the corner, and that means a few things for Georgia: the second half of 2026 is starting, we’re about to have tons of awesome firework shows, and a bunch of new laws are going into effect. Keep scrolling to learn all about five important new laws that will begin on July 1st, 2026… and how they will affect your life.
SB 406: The Georgia Property Owners’ Bill of Rights Act (the HOA law)
Here’s the bill summary, according to the Georgia General Assembly,
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to require the registration of property owners’ associations; to provide for renewals and amendments; to provide for appeals; to provide for a State Board for Review of Complaints Regarding Property Owners’ Associations; to provide for review of complaints; to amend Code Section 44-3-232 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to assessments against lot owners as constituting lien in favor of association, additional charges against lot owners, procedure for foreclosing lien, and obligation to provide statement of amounts due, so as to provide for authorization of liens and use of assessments; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
And here’s what that means in plain English:
This new law provides transparency and provides a clearer process to challenge HOA/POA actions outside of court. Basically, it’s a shield for homeowners, so they can’t be taken advantage of by their HOA.
Importantly, HOAs must register with the state, and if your HOA doesn’t register with the Georgia Secretary of State every year, they legally cannot fine you or put a lien on your house.
HB 1193: Georgia Early Literacy Act
Here’s the bill summary, according to the Georgia General Assembly,
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to education, so as to promote and advance state-wide literacy and reading education efforts; to substantially revise the “Georgia Early Literacy and Dyslexia Act”; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
And here’s what that means in plain English:
This bill is meant to help increase literacy rates in Georgia elementary schools and boost our overall grade-level reading rate. Importantly, this bill allocates funding, resources and manpower to Georgia schools, including having a trained, school-based literacy coach in every public elementary school serving grades K–3 across Georgia.
HB 651: automated traffic enforcement safety devices in school zones
Here’s the bill summary, according to the Georgia General Assembly,
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 14 of Title 40 of the O.C.G.A., relating to speed detection devices, so as to revise provisions relative to the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices in school zones; to amend Title 15 of the O.C.G.A., relating to courts, so as to authorize district attorneys, solicitors-general, and prosecuting attorneys to enforce civil monetary penalties relative to the enforcement of laws regarding speeding in a school zone using recorded images; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
And here’s what that means in plain English:
This new bill, going into effect July 1st, changes how school-zone speed cameras will be used, including by allowing prosecutors to “enforce civil monetary penalties tied to recorded images of school-zone speeding.” (Atlanta News First).
SB 195: Pharmacists authorized to dispense PrEP/PEP under conditions
Here’s the bill summary, according to the Georgia General Assembly,
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 6 of Chapter 4 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to pharmacies, so as to provide that pharmacists are authorized to dispense preexposure prophylaxis and postexposure prophylaxis under certain conditions; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical practice, so as to provide for the approval or development of a training program for pharmacists by the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy; to require pharmacists to complete such training program before dispensing preexposure prophylaxis or postexposure prophylaxis; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
And here’s what that means in plain English:
Basically, this new law, which goes into effect on July 1st, 2026 means that trained pharmacists will be able to dispense HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) under specific conditions.
Limits and conditions will include an HIV test to get PrEP, along with limited supply. PEP, since it is an emergency medication, is a more streamlined process. This new law allows pharmacists to immediately dispense a full 30-day supply to ensure there is no gap in treatment.
HB 974: Georgia’s budget (Fiscal Year from July 1st, 2026 – June 30th, 2027)
Here’s the bill summary, according to the Georgia General Assembly,
A BILL to be entitled an Act to make and provide appropriations for the State Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027; to make and provide such appropriations for the operation of the state government and its departments, boards, bureaus, commissions, institutions, and other agencies, for the university system, common schools, counties, municipalities, and political subdivisions, for all other governmental activities, projects, and undertakings authorized by law, and for all leases, contracts, agreements, and grants authorized by law; to provide for the control and administration of funds; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
And here’s what that means in plain English:
This is the state’s budget for the July 1st, 2026 – June 30th, 2027 Fiscal Year in Georgia. Take a look at the budget on the House Budget & Research Office’s website, here!
For even more new laws and updated information, you can visit the Georgia General Assembly’s website, here!